Courtesy of Sophie Sperry
If you are anything like me, The Nitro Bar has been popping up on your TikTok “For You” page. The trendy coffee shop’s co-owner Audrey Finocchiaro posts hilarious and honest videos trying her food and rating it based on different scenarios. By asking employees questions like, “I haven’t pooped in three days; what would you make me?” or “I have a terrible hangover; what would you make me?” Audrey has captured the attention of 304,700 followers on TikTok, plus 45,500 followers on Instagram.
The shop originated when Audrey Finocchiaro and her spouse Sam Lancaster bought a small cart and transformed it into a “subpar coffee cart” in her parents’ basement. They brought this cart all over Providence, Rhode Island to local markets and college campuses. They gained traction from their delicious cold brew and got local businesses to put it on tap in over 50 locations. In 2018, the couple opened their first free-standing shop in Providence and expanded their menu with pastries and breakfast sandwiches to pair with their coffees. Today, The Nitro Bar has four locations throughout Rhode Island and their coffee cart is available for special event catering.
Sophie Sperry ‘27, a Connecticut College student, spent her summer working at The Nitro Bar. Sperry is a Government and Environmental Science double major planning to join the Public Health pathway at Conn. She started visiting The Nitro Bar in Newport, Rhode Island a few years ago with her sister and quickly fell in love with the friendly staff and unique menu items. Since her first visit, Sperry dreamed of working there, but you must be over 18 years old to apply. This past spring, Sperry applied to work at the shop as part of Conn’s career prep course. She was shocked when she received an email notifying her that she got the position, as it is competitive with the shop’s newfound internet success.
Sperry started her position in May and has had a blast spending her summer there. She lives in Jamestown, RI, and takes the ferry to work when the traffic gets bad. She has felt welcomed by all her coworkers, even if they work at different locations. The shops work as a family and encourage a tight-knit community.
Courtesy of Sophie Sperry
While The Nitro Bar has been packed this summer with the usual Newport tourism and the TikTok attention, Sperry has had the opportunity to make multiple specialty food and drink items. Everything between the syrups and the pastries is made in-house, leading to a gourmet experience for the customer. Sperry’s go-to order at the moment is the Fruit Loop Drink which consists of butterfly pea tea, oat milk, and homemade vanilla syrup. To eat, Sperry enjoys the Thames Breakfast Wrap or the avocado toast, topped with pickled shallots, roasted sunflower seeds, and 2 fried eggs (The Sperry Way).
When asked about Audrey, the internet sensation and face of the shop, Sperry only had positive words. “She is an extremely friendly boss [and] likes to get to know all of her employees and helps out whenever possible,” said Sperry. “She visits the shop at least once a week… to check in and sometimes to make more content. She is also very attentive and is always checking in to make sure everything is running smoothly.”
In true Nitro Bar fashion, I asked Sperry: “If Humphrey walked into The Nitro Bar, what would you make them?” Sperry responded that Humphrey and their fellow camels would like the Sweet Potato Tofu Wrap, which consists of roasted sweet potatoes, curried tofu, avocado slices, mesclun greens, and poblano aioli. To wash this burrito down, Sperry recommended the Wilbur, which is a nitro cold brew with coconut milk, sweetened with coconut syrup, and topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon. This meal would be perfect for anyone wandering out of the desert into an oasis.
As someone obsessed with this shop online, I am excited to try it out with my new insider knowledge. If you also want to explore, The Nitro Bar in Newport, RI is roughly an hour from campus by car. It is time to buckle up, grab a friend, and try some of the Camel favorites from the Nitro Bar.
